Meet My Flower Friend, Lauren

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How did dahlias find their way into your garden and heart?

I was new to growing anything other than beans and strawberries. I decided to buy a Cafe au Lait and Myrtles Folly from a local garden store about 8 years ago. I had grown a few hydrangeas pre-children in our old house, but after a baby and a move, I wanted more flowers, primarily dahlias and roses.

They bloomed and took my breath away, my great papa also passed away around this time. He was an avid gardener and the figurehead of our family. The following year I bought a few more from local gardeners – not actually knowing much about dahlias or the craze that would happen. Storage was a struggle and I followed my grandmas method of digging them up and throwing them in a cardboard box in my garage.

A few more years went by and we rolled into 2020, I added around 20 more to my 6 plant collection and waited patiently for them to bloom. They didn’t. They were just leafy and green, healthy but no flowers. I got down to business and dove right in.

The following year, all 20 bloomed plus the few more I added. I ran out of space so I built myself some raised beds and have added more each year since then.

Dahlias ground me, I feel more connected to the earth, and the soil, and I feel at peace while I’m working with them. They’re labour intensive to store and separate, but man oh man are they worth it for those glorious blooms.

Last fall, I walked my grandma through my gardens, pointing out the special dahlias, all the insects and my vision for the future. She smiled and as we talked, a ladybug landed near us. My great papa always said he wanted to come back as a ladybug, we think of him when we see them. I guess somehow this all ties into something special for the man who helped raise me, but didn’t get to see the glorious gardens he inspired.

What are some of your future garden goals?

I’d love to expand the gardens, to be able to nurture my children’s love for gardening, growing and supplying flowers to those in my community.

I’d also love to be able to provide my children’s school with seeds and plants to help educate them on taking care of the land and feeding ourselves with plants.

What has been the hardest challenge growing dahlias?

It hasn’t been the plants themselves, if anything it’s the time it takes to do all the fall digging and dividing.

What has been the most rewarding part of growing dahlias?

For me, it’s the joy, conversations and the connections that they can bring.

I met a woman who said that dahlias reminded her of her childhood house growing up.

I’ve cried, laughed, and shared special experiences just through dahlias.

Do you have any tips to share that you’ve learned along the way?

Don’t be afraid to take risks. It sounds silly, but try things like early planting, or taking cuttings. I blindly took cuttings one of my first years, it was successful and exciting.

For storage, listen to other growers in similar regions as you, with similar environments.

Don’t be afraid to cut deep for long stems! It might hurt at first losing extra blooms but it will pay off deeper in the season!

My last one, BRIX levels count! Jennie Love’s podcast changed the way I foliar feed, noticing a huge difference in pest control.

Is there anything else you’d like to add?

I’m incredibly grateful for this community of flower friends.

From spending an hour chatting with Joanne at tuber pick-up, feeling like we’d known each other forever, to the many friendships formed through shared seeds, tubers, and laughter.

Words can’t fully express it, but I truly appreciate everyone I’ve had the joy of crossing paths with.

Lauren

To learn more about Katya’s flower journey, you can visit : Website | Facebook | Instagram